The Māori Party is calling on more than 230,000 people on the Māori electoral rolls to dismiss any thought about giving their party vote to New Zealand First in this year’s general election.
“NZ First confirmed yesterday that they don’t have our backs as Māori, that they don’t care about the fight our old people fought so we could have a voice in the House that makes decisions which affect our lives,” says Māori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan.
“A vote for NZ First is a wasted vote if you care about the mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga of our people and of Aotearoa.

The Māori Party unveiled a new plan today aimed at supporting isolated communities and businesses in the regions to get their goods to market, create jobs and open up opportunities for them to participate in the country’s economy.
“Rail was built to bring people together and to get goods in and out but that’s not happening in the regions. For far too long our regions have suffered and our people have been forced to move overseas. We say its time to stop the braindrain – bring on IwiRail,”says Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

Wetex Kang of Malay and Chinese descent has been selected as the Māori Party candidate for the Botany electorate in this year's General Election.
"Our party believes in a fair, diverse and inclusive Aotearoa so we're really excited about welcoming our first Asian candidate in more than 10 years," said Māori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan.
"Wetex comes from a land and people who we as Māori share whakapapa with, so that in itself is something for us to celebrate.
"He's also a highly intelligent and innovative young man passionate about the challenges and aspirations of not only our Asian whanaunga in this country but also tangata whenua.”

POROPORAKI - Piriniha "Prince" Ferris8 June 2017
Tangi moke ana mātou te Paati Māori ki te ngarohanga o to tātou Pāpā e Prince Ferris.
The Māori Party joins with Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau ā Ruataupare to mourn the loss today of Piriniha ‘Prince’ Ferris.
“News of Pāpā Prince’s death has left me heartbroken – his service to whānau, hapū and iwi, and indeed our mighty Māori Party was legendary,” says Co-leader Marama Fox MP.
“I met Pāpā Prince and Aunty Connie on my numerous travels up on the Coast, and recollect a chance meeting on the streets of Gisborne where Pāpā Prince handed me $300 koha towards our 2014 campaign. It turns out he had been busking on the street with his saxophone raising pūtea for the Māori Party candidate,” says Ms Fox.
“I was so fortunate to have met these two wonderful people. They are two of the staunchest members of the Māori Party. Pāpā Prince offered to erect my billboards around Tairāwhiti in 2014. I asked if he’d pull together some young bucks to help him – there were three of them, the youngest was 74 years young,” Ms Fox says.
“Kei te tangi hotuhotu te manawa mōu e Pāpā. Prince was such a beautiful man - kind hearted with a charming nature. His wicked sense of humour was what we loved about him, but above all else – tangata tūtūru ki tōnā whānau, hapū, iwi hoki,” says Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

Māori Party congratulates Queen’s Birthday Honours recipients
5 June 2017
The Māori Party is commending all the recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours this year, including tāngata whenua who have dedicated their lives to their work and serving their communities.
“All the recipients are being honours for their individual achievements but the reality is their deeds have touched the lives of whānau and communities across Aotearoa and made a real difference. They should be immensely proud of their endeavours,” says Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.
The Māori Party is hailing the knighthood awarded to Dr Timoti Karetu for service to the Māori language. The inaugural Māori Language Commissioner has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“Dr Karetu has been a champion of te reo Māori and has led from the front since becoming the first Māori Language Commissioner in 1987,” says Mr Flavell.
“He is sought after around the world for his knowledge about the revival and retention of indigenous language and this honour for him is so richly deserved,” says Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox.

Bringing justice for tamariki abuse victims in institutional care is why the Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox stood in the House today to call on Minister for Children Anne Tolley for a Royal Commission of Inquiry.